Dad Cheats Death After Falling From Roof And Breaking Nearly Every Bone In His Body

An English man from Tameside, English metropolitan borough who almost died after falling off a roof has spoken of his horrific ordeal.

Retired roofer Ian Locke was fitting an antenna for a friend when the nightmare unfolded on September 17 last year.

The 53-year-old was walking along the top of the property in Wythenshawe when he started sliding backwards.

He tried flipping over in a desperate bid to save himself but it was already too late.

The dad-of-two plummeted 30ft and smashed straight into the ground, breaking nearly every bone in his body.

The fall left him temporarily paralysed.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said: “I tried flipping myself over but it happened that fast.

“The next minute I was in the back of his garden with my arm snapped in two places.

“When I landed on the floor, I told my mate I couldn’t feel my legs. I was that confused, I didn’t know where I was.

“I knew I had a problem because I couldn’t move.”

A friend dialled 999 and was told an ambulance would take one hour and 40 minutes to arrive.

But by this point, Ian had started bleeding from his mouth profusely.

An air ambulance was immediately sent to the scene and Ian was airlifted to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

While he underwent several blood transfusions, surgeons told his family to prepare for the worst.

Staff allowed Ian’s daughter Sharelle into the surgery room to say her goodbyes.

She helped to clear blood from his mouth while surgeons desperately tried to stop the bleeding.

But miraculously, Ian defied the odds and survived before being placed into an eight-week coma.

“The surgeon told my family I was going to die,” Ian, from Hyde, continued.

“My daughter was in the room – she saved my life.

“The only reason she was in the room was because I was dying.

“She gave me a kiss bye-bye and I said, ‘I’m not going nowhere. I’m like a machine’.

“She told I wasn’t going to die.

“When I was in a coma, I was had some terrible dreams coming in and out of consciousness.

“I kept seeing things and the things I kept seeing played on my mind. I was watching this big dream myself.

“My brain was totally frazzled from the cocktail of drugs I was on. I didn’t know what day it was.”

When Ian came round, he could only move the tips of his thumbs.

It was then that he learnt just how devastating the fall had been. Ian had broken his arm in two places, with his bone protruding through his skin by his shoulder and wrist. His hand was crushed and he had broken his back in four places.

All of his ribs were broken and he had pierced his transplanted lung. His pelvis had also been shattered in 30 different places. Doctors say he may be disabled for the rest of his life.

During his time at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Ian caught Covid and was transferred to Trafford General Hospital. He is currently waiting to be discharged from the Covid ward so he can begin his long road to recovery.

He expects to return home in around three weeks – seeing his family for the first time since the accident. While he waits, his bungalow is being fitted with special physiotherapy equipment to help with his rehabilitation.

“It’s been the most frustrating journey I have ever witnessed in my life,” Ian continued.

“I had a lung transplant and sailed through that.

“Because of Covid I haven’t been able to see my kids. I’ve just had my birthday and Christmas and I opened my presents here.

“I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed even if someone set the ward on fire. It’s just so painful and my bones keep locking.

“I’ve defied the odds. I’m going to love every moment when I get out.

“I’m not going to sit there sulking because I can’t go out or stand up in my own living room.

“I’m going to cherish every moment with my kids, my grandkids, my Mrs and my mum.”

A fundraiser has been set up to help Ian buy an electric wheelchair for when he leaves hospital.

***

Source: Manchester Evening News